Sunday, August 29, 2010

This a true story that happened with a caller to Islam from Egypt called Amr Khalid, he said three days ago I received an e mail from a young lady from Australia, and the e mail reads as follows: and I quote:

I am a young Lebanese lady that has a Muslim father and a Christian mother, for the first ten years of my life I lived in Lebanon then we migrated to Australia which brought an end to my relationship to my connection with the Middle East.

I am currently 22 years of age and after migrating to Australia, my association with my religion also ended completely. The only thing I know is that I am a muslimah, thats it.

I dont know what the Quran looks like, I dont know how to pray and the religion plays no significance in my life. My mother and father separated each one re-marrying another person. I entered university, my mother and father left Australia living me behind alone with no family, no brothers and sisters, I know nothing about my ancestry in Lebanon, I lived alone and I had to work to spend on myself, I attended university in the morning and worked at the bar in the evening, I have a boyfriend and have not left out any haram except having done it without any shame.

I am fully westernised, I know a little bit of Arabic and because I am extremely beautiful, I joined the beauty competition in New Zealand and won in this competition, I am planning to join a beer competition in New Zealand and I am currently modelling for magazines.

During this time I used to visit a Lebanese family residing in Australia and I saw a Ramadan episode on television talking about modesty, the episode had its web addressed displayed. I went through a nervous breakdown; it was as though this episode was addressing me directly. I am sending you this e mail to ask, is it possible for Allah to accept me, in other words forgive me?

And this is where Sarahs e mail ends. Subhanallah!

No matter how long a persons imaan is, the soul of a person longs for its creator just as the stomach hungers for food so too does the soul long for Allah, this caller to Islam wrote back advising her about the conditions of repentance and that Allah will of course forgive her if she repents.

Two days later she contacts Amr Khalid and she says:

I have repented to Allah and I have left my boyfriend and promised never to see him again, after another two days she contacts him and she says: I want to learn how to pray, then another two days passed and she says: I would like some Quranic audio tapes, so he sends her some tapes via DHL Korea.

A week goes by and he doesnt hear from her until she contacts him and informs him that she has retracted her beauty title of that particular city, then came the surprise, she contacted him saying,

I have put on the hijab, however the story doesnt end here, two days after putting on the hijab she experiences a sharp pain so she goes to the doctor who diagnosis her with brain cancer and that her days are limited, she enters the hospital to be operated on, the success rate of this operation as informed by the doctors in Australia is 20 percent, this is what the doctor said. As for Sarah, listen to what she had to say, she said:

I am pleased to meet Allah, I am happy that I repented prior to finding out about my illness, I dont know whether my mother and father will know about my situation, If I live, I will support your website, for this website is my window to Islam.

To Allah we belong, and to him is our return.

May Allah have mercy on Sarah who died at the age of 22.

They buried her with the Muslims in New Zealand, prior to her death, she sent a short letter to Amr Khalid saying:

I lived far away from my lord for 22 years but I repented and turned back to Allah 3 weeks ago, I dont know many Muslims besides you and this internet forum, I urge you to make dua for me that Allah has mercy on me and to forgive me, make dua to Allah to guide my mother for she does not know anything about me.

Monday, August 23, 2010

While reading the Quran the other day (Quran published by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud- KSA)I came across a hadith related Surah Al- Baqarah. The reason I mention the particular publisher of the Quran is because not all Qurans come equipped with hadiths that are related to the Surah or ayat at hand. So I wanted to shed light on this beautiful addition to reading the Quran. I read Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation and masha' Allah its good but it comes with more interpretation and personal views of what the ayat means as footnotes than having actual hadiths presented. Which I mean Alhamdulillah is good but having the hadith already there can clear up or give more information to what Allah azawajal is speaking of (hence specific stories or events). Anywho this hadith below is related to Riba (interest) but it had so much more than a lesson about Riba, I thought it was very thought provoking and gives hope to us that we can be one of the those granted Jannah.

Enjoy the Hadith :D.

Narrated Sumurah bin Jundub [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhu]: Allâh's Messenger [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] very often used to ask his Companions, "Did anyone of you see a dream?" So, dreams would be narrated to him by those whom Allâh willed to relate. One morning the Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "Last night two persons (angels) came to me (in a dream) and woke me up and said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!' I set out with them and we came across a man lying down, and behold, another man was standing over his head, holding a big rock. Behold, he was throwing the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away and the thrower followed it and took it back. By the time he reached the man, his head returned to its normal state. The thrower then did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhân Allâh! Who are these two persons?' They said, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded and came to a man lying in a prone position, and another man standing over his head with an iron hook, and behold, he would put the hook in one side of the man's mouth and tear off that side of his face to the back (of the neck), and similarly tear his nose from front to back, and his eye from front to back. Then he turned to the other (second) side of the man's face and did just as he had done with the first side. He hardly completed that (second) side when the first side returned to its normal state. Then he returned to it to repeat what he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhân Allâh! Who are these two persons?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded and came across something like a Tannur (a kind of baking oven, a pit usually clay-lined for baking bread)." I think the Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "In that oven there was much noise and voices." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "We looked into it and found naked men and women, and behold, a flame of fire was reaching to them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried loudly. I asked them, 'Who are these?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

And so we proceeded and came across a river." I think he said, "-- red like blood." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "And behold, in the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had collected many stones. Behold, while the other man was swimming, he went near him. The former opened his mouth and the latter (on the bank) threw a stone into his mouth whereupon he went swimming again. Then again he (the former) returned to him (the latter), and every time the former returned, he opened his mouth, and the latter threw a stone into his mouth, (and so on) the performance was repeated. I asked my two companions, 'Who are these two persons?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

And we proceeded till we came to a man with a repulsive appearance, the most repulsive appearance you ever saw a man having! Beside him there was a fire, and he was kindling it and running around it. I asked my companions, 'Who is this (man)?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded till we reached a garden of deep green dense vegetation, having all sorts of spring colours. In the midst of the garden there was a very tall man, and I could hardly see his head because of his great height, and around him there were children in such a large number as I have never seen. I said to my companions, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded till we came to a majestic huge garden, greater and better than I have ever seen! My two companions said to me, 'Ascend up' and I ascended up." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "So we ascended till we reached a city built of gold and silver bricks, and we went to its gate and asked (the gatekeeper) to open the gate, and it was opened and we entered the city and found in it men with one side of their bodies as handsome as the most handsome person you have ever seen, and the other side as ugly as the ugliest person you have ever seen. My two companions ordered those men to throw themselves into the river. Behold, there was a river flowing across (the city), and its water was like milk in whiteness. Those men went and threw themselves in it and then returned to us after the ugliness (of their bodies) had disappeared, and they became in the best shape."

The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] further added, "My two companions (angels) said to me, 'This place is the 'Adn Paradise, and that is your place.' I raised up my sight, and behold, there I saw a palace like a white cloud! My two companions said to me, 'That (palace) is your place.' I said to them, 'May Allâh bless you both! Let me enter it.' They replied, 'As for now, you will not enter it, but you shall enter it (one day).'

I said to them, 'I have seen many wonders tonight. What does all that mean which I have seen?' They replied, 'We will inform you: As for the first man you came upon whose head was being smashed with the rock, he is the symbol of the one who studies the Qur'ân, and then neither recites it nor acts on its orders, and sleeps neglecting the enjoined prayers. As for the man you came upon, whose sides of mouth, nostrils and eyes were torn off from front to back, he is the symbol of the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells lies that are spread all over the world. And those naked men and women whom you saw in a construction resembling an oven, they are the adulterers-fornicators and the adulteresses-fornicatresses; and the man whom you saw swimming in the river, and was given a stone to swallow, is the eater of Ribâ; and the bad looking man whom you saw near the fire kindling it and going around it, is Mâlik, the gatekeeper of Hell; and the tall man whom you saw in the garden, is Ibrâhîm (Abraham), and the children around him are those who die on Al-Fitrah (the Islâmic Faith of Monotheism).' " The narrator added: Some Muslims asked the Prophet ,"O Allâh's Messenger! What about the children of Al-Mushrikûn?*" The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] replied, "And also the children of Al-Mushrikûn." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "My two companions added, 'The men you saw half handsome and half ugly were those persons who had mixed an act that was good with another that was evil, but Allâh forgave them.' " [Sahih Al-Bukhâri, 9/7047 (O.P.171)].

* Al-Mushrikun: polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] .

So therefore from the Hadith, you can see that Allah will forgive those Muslims who try their best to do good even though they may have their shortcomings. So if you messed up in the past or recently and you feel like there is no hope for you, THERE IS HOPE! Make a change in your life, ask Allah for His forgiveness and follow up with good deeds, for they may be what keeps you from touching the Fire of Jahanam. Remember we're human, and we are created with fallacies so please remember that Allah knows us best and if we try to our best to please him then our work will never be lost.

Ok insha' Allah that was some green tea for your Iman for today. Takecare everyone. Peace!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I received this email from Jillian Michael's website. *Side Note* If you are not familiar with Jillian Michaels, she is one of the top personal Trainers on the show The Biggest Loser. If you're looking for a challenging workout dvd I totally suggest purchasing one of hers. I'm use to Tae-Bo (Billy Blank's workout series) and yes he's tough but when I did Jillian's dvd I totally felt out of shape. So try her dvd if you're looking for a challenge beyond your norm.So back to the email :).

Are There Toxins in Your Cosmetics?Did you know that cosmetics and personal-care products are a huge source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals? "But wait," you're thinking. "If it's on the drugstore shelf, it must be proven to be 100 percent safe — right?"

Not necessarily. While the Food and Drug Administration regulates the safety of cosmetics, manufacturers don't have to seek approval before they bring a new product to market. Beyond an established list of prohibited or restricted substances, the FDA doesn't have the authority to regulate individual ingredients. As a result, all kinds of questionable chemicals are contained in the products that many of us rub into our skin every day. Here are some of the potentially harmful ones I want you to avoid:

Formaldehyde: This preservative may be found in moisturizers, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, eye shadows, mascaras, and many other products. It's harmful to the immune system and is a known human carcinogen.

Parabens: Found in shampoos, conditioners, body washes, tooth whiteners, toothpastes, facial cleansers, sunscreens, moisturizers, and astringents, these preservatives have estrogenic effects on the body and have been linked to breast and prostate cancer.

Placenta: Used in some hair relaxers, moisturizers, and toners, placenta is also estrogenic and may increase the risk for breast cancer.

Triclosan: This antibacterial agent is found in a variety of products, including moisturizers, hand creams, shampoos, conditioners, antiperspirants, and toothpastes. It may interfere with the metabolism of thyroid hormone and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Play it safe when you buy personal care products — first look them up in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, and buy from companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

So I decided to look up some of my daily use products on Comesticsdatabase.com to see whether my cosmetics were harmful or not. I suggest using this website and researching your personal products to see whether they are a risk factor or not to your health. I personally try to purchase organic or all natural products, but this new finding I think I'll be more on the fence of buying strictly organic and all natural products from now on. The products tend to be a little more costly but I rather spend the money on the "good stuff" to prevent causing harm to my body. This actually is related to price of food and how its made but that topic is for another time.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

I wanted to help spread this sisters blog, who masha' Allah does a wonderful job of regularly posting "Lessons of the Day". Please follow her and insha' Allah we can benefit from her blog and may Allah reward her, Ameen.

Lesson of the Day1236Ayahs of the Day:When the sky bursts open and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due, and when the earth is distended and throws up what is in it and becomes empty and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due: O man, you are striving toward your Lord, and you will meet your Lord; then the one who is given his record in his right hand will be called to account for an easy reckoning and return to his people delighted. [84: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:Our Lord says: "Do not be misled by your egos, or you will be led away from the truth and into lies." [Hadith Qudsi]

Wise Quote of the Day:Three things destroy a person: Persisting in sins with false hopes of repentance; delaying repentance with the delusion of long life; and despairing of His mercy. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]

Guidance of the Day:Buying or leasing a simpler car saves money and possibly trips to the mechanics. Having fewer things means less things to take care of, insure, think about, worry about, and keep clean. Each item you purchase on credit is more to pay for you, but is also one more bill to pay each month. I can go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. Voluntary Simplicity is not about giving up everything you own. To the contrary, there are obviously certain instances when obtaining (rather than getting rid of) something makes your life easier and simpler. For example, I can't imagine giving up my computer or fax machine. To do so would clearly make my life far more complicated and difficult.

Voluntary Simplicity is not about any single decision, nor is it about voluntary poverty. It's more of a direction, a series of conscious decisions that you make because you want to improve the quality of your life. The key is to take an honest look at what's truly important in your life. If you'd like a little more time, a little more energy, and a little more peace of mind, I encourage you to explore this topic a little more carefully. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations. All that a man does outwardly is but the expression and completion of his inward thought. To work effectively -- he must think clearly; to act nobly -- he must think nobly. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts -- you cannot escape the results of your thoughts. You will become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration. Lesson of the Day

Here's a lecture that I found very inspirational by Nouman Ali Khan, the leader of Bayyinah Institute. Have you ever wondered what the phrase "coolness of my eyes" meant? How does this phrase relate to our lives in general? Watch the video and learn the beauty of the phrase. Enjoy. *Video courtsey of Halaltube.com

Thursday, August 12, 2010

For the majority of women across the globe, makeup has almost become a necessity for them. Samina Akhter, a Muslim businesswoman has launched UK’s first “halal makeup” meaning that it is 100% free of alcohol and animal products. After reading this article on Muslim Debates I was left with questions.

I noticed that the women who were modeling the makeup were Muslimah hijabis which puzzled me. Doesn’t makeup defeat the purpose of the hijab or the traditional Islamic headscarf?

Makeup is used to emphasize the eyes, lips, cheek bones, and so on which ultimately cause more attention to be drawn towards the subject – in this case, it’s the hijabi. Frankly, makeup even when use to its lowest minimum can make a huge difference in a person’s appearance. I have witnessed women who are covered from head to toe with eyes darkened by kohl or eyeliner, lashes thickened and lengthened, lips darkened to a sweet rouge tint, a shy blush whisked across the cheeks and so on and the majority of Muslims agree with that not being the proper form of the hijab.

When stating the points above, I was told by Muslims that no-makeup or minimal makeup with hijab is “a too strict interpretation of the hijab.” I have been misunderstood as a female misogynist! A controlling, misogynistic dictator of a woman’s life. It surprised me to be called all of these names. I am a person who stands strong for human rights.

I recognize women rights and speak in favor of it every chance I get and when I explained that makeup can do the reverse action of the hijab, I became an evil tyrant. Furthermore, I’ve been told to “butt out” of this whole debate because I don’t believe in all of this.

I have once covered my hair and my body as I felt it was a commandment from Allah. I am not against a woman who chooses to wear the headscarf. It is her choice and if she strongly feels that it is for her and what she stands for, then I too will stand by her side as I want to be respected for not wearing the hijab any longer.

WHY THE HIJAB?

I interviewed seven Muslim females of different backgrounds on the hijab to see why Muslimahs felt compelled to wear it. Read more here!

Insha' Allah I hope everyone's Ramadan is going well, if not do not despair insha' Allah we have time to make it better :D. I listened to a lecture called Fasting and the Furious by Muhammad Al-Shareef an Islamic motivational speaker and founder of Al-Maghrib Institute, and here are few tips for Ramadan that I was able to gather (insha' Allah I'll post more soon).

*NOTE* these tips were inspired by Br. Muhammad but I have added my own input and thoughts into these tips, so all of this does not reflect his ideas.

Tips for Ramadan1) Stay away from the opposite of Ramadan. Look forward to Ramadan so that you can have a successful one. Remove the negativity from your life.

2)Do not waste time, time is precious. The Quran was revealed during this month so lets use the time we are given to give much attention to the Quran and strengthen our iman and deen.

3) Fasting is not just physical, its also spiritual (main point). Instead of us making "new years resolutions" this is our time to make resolutions to become better Muslims and to keep these new habits/ character that we are trying to make during Ramadan for the rest of our life time.

4) Make goals that are actually practical and make a plan to achieve them. Ex: Go to the masjid early so that I can make my sunnah, limit television viewing, remove negative speech, be nicer to my parents, read more Quran, give charity more, make all my salaahs, make more dikhr, and etc.

5) Make sure to eat suhur right before Fajr. Do not neglect suhur for its neglecting the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhim wa salaam. Bring food and water to your bed side so as soon as you wake up you can start consuming food so that at least your able to get something in your stomach without having to head to the kitchen :P. Also eat properly, don't eat junk food which will not benefit your body and soon have you extremely hungry.

6) Have Taqwa- realize that Allah is always watching. By doing this insha' Allah you'll abstain from bad behavior and what you do is for yourself. Meaning that for all your actions there will be a consequence. Side note* Having Taqwa comes with being in tune with the Quran and surrounding yourself with which is halal. Your awareness can diminish when you keep company or surround yourself with things and people who are not following the straight path.

7)Pray right on time. Do not delay Maghrib because your still eating, bring food with you to where ever you are so that when its time to break fast you can do so and make your salaah on time. Insha' Allah you'll have time to eat more after maghrib and can actually take the time to chew and enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down your throat. Also do not over eat, during Ramadan we are not suppose to gain weight. We're suppose to actually loose some weight due to our fasting, just because we're fasting does not mean we can pack on the pounds at iftar, doesn't make sense.

8) Eat foods with fiber, foods high in fiber will keep your digestive system regulated and keep you fuller longer.

9) Realize that you'll be weak the first few days of Ramadan, your body is beginning to flush out all the junk and waste in your body the first few days. On the 4th or 5th day (if one is eating properly) your body will begin to become more energized, so be patient with your body.

10) Our hearts fluctuates quite often so we should check it often and see where we are with Allah. Go to and download your own 30 day heart tracker for free! Courtesy of Muhammad Alshareef.

Friday, August 6, 2010

I've had this on my mind for some time now. I think I thought about this more intensely when there was a possibility that I would move over seas to Kuwait or Saudi. At that time I thought more of how my rights and freedoms that I enjoy here in America would be drastically limited such as driving, being able to wear colors, having a career (that's not confined to one area of work) and other such. Now I'm not trying to bash those countries who have their laws and culture this way, this is what they are accustomed to and that it. Just like the US is accustomed to having nudity (look too much skin is called nudity even if you have bra and a thong on) be acceptable.

As I was thinking more I started to realize how corrupt the governments are that lead this predominate Muslim countries. How the majority of their laws are not following shariah but are following their cultural traditions and at times want to use shariah law to their benefit or convenience- hence pick and choose what part of Islam they like to enforce. Though that's not my major issue for we all have our short comings when it comes to following Islam all the way at all times, its our natural struggle whether we are fighting ourselves or fighting the atmosphere in which we live. My issue that we have these governments, leaders, armies and the whole shabang that are oppressing our own Muslims in their homeland. Here's an example:

Now maybe I'm not sure to this as many other Muslims who are raised in the west to see such behavior amongst Muslims. I always thought my brothers and sisters to be better in "Muslim" countries and not have this time of behavior amongst ourselves. Though maybe I'm just naive to think that since people live in a "Muslim" country that they would not have such evil take place. I spoke to one of my friends about this and I basically said to her "I rather be under oppression by Non-Muslims than my "own" people". Now I'm not sure if this is the right to say for Muslim (one who tries to implement Islam fully) though I think I would be more sadden if I were to be treated unfair and unjust by a government that is ran by Muslims than by others because we should not expect much from them (lets be real).

This type of behavior and condition is what keeps the ummah in shackles to shaytaan and his workers, whether it be an individual or a nation (*cough cough* US). We can never be a strong ummah unless we start following Islam and start selling our selves out to these nations and people who are only with us or using us to their benefit, not that they care about us sincerely. This is the same case with Iraq and Haiti, these "nations" will only help if they can get something out of it themselves, which is take power over the country and make them their new gloves in which they'll use to do their dirty work with and keep their hands clean. I'm not referring to all the people who sincerely want to help other countries during crisis but I'm taking about the people in charge who lead these movements, for they hardly are ever truthful in their agenda.

So if we can't look to our own Muslims for help or to be treated just who do we turn to? Where do me make hijrah too? Where can we honestly practice Islam without be subject to cultural laws that are burden for those who are not from those countries and are treated as second class citizens? This is question. All I can do at this time and others is just pray to Allah that our situation becomes better and that we can buckle down and rise against shaytaans whispers and stop selling ourselves out and become strong. But in the mean time where do we go?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

So here's an update. I left facebook for about two months with the sole purpose of strengthening my iman and having control over facebook instead of facebook controlling me. Well I did not get the results that I was looking for. Though I did become better with my time on facebook, but as for as the spiritual part that did not actually come till after getting back on facebook. Facebook made me realize how extremely overrated it is, and oddly enough it just strengthen my iman to want to leave it. It could be the Ramadan spirit, or just the annoyance of Facebook itself with his hypocrisy. Its way too popular for my liking with businesses asking you to become a fan on their FB page, its extremely a sellout scheme. Though I do see why some imams and students of knowledge would want to make a page in order to reach out to the ummah who use FB and insha' Allah be a good outlet for them instead of being bombarded with haram elements. I give credit to those brothers and sisters trying to educate the ummah through Facebook.

Plus it has become a Fitnah pool for many, who I believe have just become sucked into madness way deep and that the only way at this point in time for them to redeem themselves and trying to get their lives back on track is by leaving the Shaytaan (devil)ran Facebook, honestly there's more harm in it than good, yes the good is there at times but way more problems you occur than good.

So this Ramadan I encourage all or most of you to either delete/ deactivate or just limit your time on Facebook. Stay clear of looking at FB friend's pages that is not pleasing to Allah, and try focusing on the goal here. Which is gain as many blessings as possible, to be forgiven for our past sins (and not to repeat them), and to create a strong bond with Allah that shall last. Facebook is not worth loosing barakah over, unless your facebook is almost fully halal, in which maybe 1% of it may be iffy but the majority of it is halal substance. If so masha' Allah for the good work of keeping it clean and not letting dirt enter! :D. Anywho so bye bye Facebook, and hello again blogspot.

Organic Love

"In order to have love for yourself and others you must have love for Allah for only He can put love into one's heart. And to have love for Allah is to be loyal servant to Allah subhana wa ta'ala." - Tierra